TAIF — Tatweer Holding Company, which comes under the Ministry of Education, is working to privatize 17 university hospitals, Al-Madina newspaper reported on Saturday.

They are trying to develop an operational model to involve the private sector to be a partner in these hospitals.

Studies are in progress to amend the regulations of these university hospitals to involve the private sector.

The privatization of government hospitals is progressing well as the Health Ministry has taken steps to establish a holding company and five health companies covering all of the Kingdom’s regions.

Informed sources said the new system, to be introduced first in the Eastern Province, followed by Riyadh and Makkah regions, would boost healthcare services in the country.

Health Minister Tawfiq Al-Rabiah issued an order to form the first health complex in Makkah with four hospitals and 11 health centers under the supervision of a consultative council at King Abdullah Medical City in Makkah.

The minister approved the consultative council at King Fahd Specialist Hospital in Dammam for the health complex in the Eastern Province with five hospitals and 19 health centers.

It has divided public health facilities in the Riyadh region into first and second health complexes.

The efficiency of hospitals under the new healthcare companies will be increased by 25 percent by 2021, and 37 percent of hospitals and primary health centers will be brought under the companies by 2020.

Each health complex will have a consultative council to supervise its affairs.

Hospitals will be given choice to either absorb employees from the Civil Service Ministry or make self-employment.

A national purchase company will be established to ensure adequate supply of medicines and medical appliances to hospitals and health centers.